Senate Panel Moves Veterans’
Legislation

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC)
approved legislation (S. 944) this week that would authorize veterans
attending college to pay in-state tuition rates, even if they have not
established residency in the state. The measure, sponsored by
Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (Vt.), also seeks to improve education
benefits for survivors of service members killed in combat and was
extensively amended in committee to include provisions from other
related bills. Amendments include:

Expanding eligibility for the Family Caregiver Program to veterans
of all eras; (This program currently provides a monthly stipend and
reimbursement for travel to post-9/11 veterans only.)

Expanding employment opportunities for veterans through new programs
that will encourage employers to hire veterans and by renewing the
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, which is part of the VOW to Hire
Heroes Act;

Requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make quarterly
reports to Congress on its progress to reduce the backlog of unresolved
disability claims;